Does Church Attendance Mean Anything? (Part2)

The following article is part two in a series of bullietin articles on church attendance. The scope of the article is limited due to the limited space of a bulletin. However, I would like to see and interact with the thoughts of others on this topic of church attendance, especially when it comes to structured congregation times like Wednesdays and Sundays. Be sure to see part one.

Does Church Attendance Mean Anything? (Part 2)

Our English word attendance comes to us from the 14^th century French, atendance, meaning "attention, wait, hope, expectation," from atendant, of atendre, meaning "action of waiting on someone." The notion of attending in the sense of presenting oneself with the intent of taking a part developed in the 1560’s. The idea of attendee, “someone “who attends something” comes to us from the 1960’s (source: dictionary.com).

The above dictionary definitions of attendance are helpful in our continuing look at church attendance. Additionally helpful, is a key verse noted in the last bulletin article which says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:25). Together, the combination of our English understanding of attendance and the Hebrew passage influence what many of us think about church attendance.

For starters, some simply participate in church as someone “who attends something” in the sense that they merely show up. Pejoratively, we might call such an individual a “pew-warmer” or “pew-packer.” An “attendee” often is just checking off the “box of attendance.” Sadly, many attend church and sit in the pews like flowers in a vase waiting to be attended to rather than attending to others. Hebrews tells us to “encourage one another” when we gather. Even those physically confined can encourage us with their presence and prayers. 

The “action of waiting on someone” corresponds well with the previous verse in Hebrews, which says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:23). Furthermore, we all have gifts by the Lord by which He expects and holds us accountable to use for His glory to the benefit of all (Eph 4; 1 Cor 12). We cannot spur what we do not see and cannot touch, and therefore we must not “give up meeting together.” The Greek word for  “give up” used in Hebrews has the idea of “normally referring to a small part of a larger whole - 'to cause to remain, to leave to exist, to leave’” (source: Louw-Nida Lexicon). What a potent image is, “to leave to exist.” A sobering and sad thought is how many in the local congregation are willing to leave the “smaller part” of those who attend church to exist on their own. All have gifts, all are necessary, and all must attend to others.

Thirdly, attendance as “wait, hope,” and “expectation” is clearly seen in the Hebrew writers admonition to attend to one another as we “see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:25). The Day we see approaching is the Day of the Lord, the second coming of Christ. Therefore, one gauge of a congregation’s and an individual’s belief, hope, and expectation in seeing Christ’s return is church attendance to church-related activities.

So in conclusion (to part 2), to answer the question, “Does church attendance mean anything?”; we might be better off asking the question, “Does Jesus coming again mean anything to you?”

--Terry